To the Ephesians

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil.

And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.  

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place— unless you repent.

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”   Revelation 2.1-7

Doing good for the wrong reasons. Dare I say most churches today would do well to live up to half of what the Ephesians have managed.  And yet the rebuke: You’ve lost your first love.  I’ve seen many things written about that jab over the ages.  One thing for sure: It doesn’t matter how much they’ve done, they’ve forgotten what it was all about.   

It may be quite the sin to do the wrong thing for the right reason (we’ll call that consequentialism for now), but it appears to be no better to do the right thing for the wrong reason, or do it without being grounded in the right reason.  Just something to kick around on this Palm Sunday.